Stricter rules proposed for European textiles waste
20/02/2024
EU countries would need to ensure that these targets are achieved at national level by 31 December 2030.
The new rules would set up extended producer responsibility schemes, through which economic operators that make textiles available on the EU market would cover the costs for their separate collection, sorting and recycling.
Member states would have to establish these schemes 18 months after the entry into force of the directive (compared to 30 months proposed by the Commission). EU countries would need to ensure, by 1 January 2025, the separate collection of textiles for re-use, preparing for re-use and recycling.
These rules would cover textile products such as clothing and accessories, blankets, bed linen, curtains, hats, footwear, mattresses and carpets, including products that contain textile-related materials such as leather, composition leather, rubber or plastic.
Every year, 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste are generated in the EU. Clothing and footwear alone account for 5.2 million tonnes of waste, equivalent to 12 kg of waste per person every year, according to the European Parliament. It is estimated that less than 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled into new products.
MEP Anna Zalewska (pictured) said: "For textiles, we patch up loopholes by also including non-household products, carpets and mattresses, as well as sales via online platforms. We also request a textile waste reduction target, with an oversight of exported used textiles. Better infrastructure to increase separate collection should be complemented by sorting mixed municipal waste more efficiently, so that items which can be recycled are extracted before being sent to the incinerator or landfill."
The full house is scheduled to vote on its position during the March 2024 plenary session. The file will be followed up by the new Parliament after the European elections on 6-9 June.
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